Bears coach John Fox: Kevin White’s absence was day off

SHARE Bears coach John Fox: Kevin White’s absence was day off
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Bears receivers Kevin White and Alshon Jeffery. (AP)

BOURBONNAIS – The Bears’ shortened practice Friday resembled games from last season as quarterback Jay Cutler took the field without his best offensive threats.

That would include receiver Kevin White, who joined injured receivers Alshon Jeffery (hamstring) and Eddie Royal (concussion) and tight end Zach Miller (concussion) on the sidelines.

At first, coach John Fox said the injury report went unchanged from Thursday, but when questioned about White’s absence, he indicated that White received a day off.

“Yeah, we do that periodically,” Fox said. “We adjust the number of reps, but that’s kind of the grind of camp.”

Every repetition at practice would seemingly be important for White, who was called a “work in progress” by receivers coach Curtis Johnson Friday. The Bears are expanding White’s route-running, a significant difference from West Virginia.

The Bears, though, have promised to be mindful of White’s workload during training camp and the preseason after he missed all of his rookie year because of shin surgery.

“It’s a lot on his plate for a young player that didn’t play much last year,” Johnson said. “But the one thing is he’s determined to do it. He’s always up. He’s always in his playbook. He’s doing a phenomenal job.”

Fox on injuries

Fox didn’t provide a meaningful update on Jeffery’s hamstring injury, but he said that Miller and Royal have increased their activities as they recover from concussions. They’ve been out since Monday.

“The concussion protocol is what it is,” Fox said. “We’re cautious there. They just increased their exercise and what they can do. In time, typically they come back, and they’re fine.”

Tight end Greg Scruggs, meanwhile, was hospitalized with a bruised lung after a hard hit from outside linebacker Sam Acho during the intense goal-line drill on Thursday. Fox expected him to be released by Friday night.

Family fun time

“Family Fest” at Soldier Field on Saturday figures to be the Bears’ most physical practice of training camp for the second consecutive year.

Fox said it would feature another live scrimmage, which will consist of 12 plays each for the first, second and third teams this year. Quarterbacks will be the only players off limits.

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